In 1972, a flurry of new postage stamps emerged as countries across Europe marked the half-centenary of the International Union of Railways (UIC). Belgium and Romania stepped up to the mark – as did plucky Monaco, with a handsome commemorative issue showcasing trains that surely never ran on Monaco’s limited rail network (which is just over one mile).
The stamps have been consigned to philatelic history, but not so another initiative sponsored by UIC to mark its 50th anniversary. UIC’s European members launched a remarkable rail pass designed to give young Europeans the freedom to roam the continent.
